Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 November 2018
244. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions held to date with the British authorities and at EU level in relation to the adverse impact Brexit may have on cross-Border bus services; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46362/18]
View answer245. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that there will be no disruption to cross-Border bus services following Brexit; if he and Bus Éireann have had discussions with their counterparts in Northern Ireland and Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46363/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.
While negotiations with the EU are being handled centrally by the Michel Barnier and his team, I have met with Secretary of State Chris Grayling on Brexit concerns generally on a number of occasions and am meeting him again in Dublin on Thursday 8 November. Officials from my department have also met with their counterparts in London and Belfast in relation to the implications of Brexit including on cross-border public transport services. The most recent of these meetings was last Tuesday, 6 November, with officials from the Department of Infrastructure Northern Ireland. The latter discussions included the implications for cross-border bus services. These discussions do not, and cannot, delve into bilateral negotiations on contingency planning, the withdrawal agreement or on the future EU/UK relationship.
Brexit and its potential implications for Ireland are being managed on a whole-of-government basis. The Department is represented on all relevant cross-Departmental coordination structures, and an internal Departmental Committee on Brexit meets on a monthly basis to oversee the Department's analyses and planning as the negotiations progress.
Contingency planning in relation to Brexit at both a national and an EU level is focused on preparing for a no-deal scenario or so-called “disorderly Brexit” and on a central case scenario involving a transition period based on the “status quo” and agreement on the future relationship. The Department continues to engage with the European Commission on Brexit concerns impacting on Ireland across all sectors, including public transport cross-border services.
The Department has continually stressed the importance that stakeholders take all necessary steps within their control to prepare for Brexit, including the importance of undertaking contingency planning to minimise the impact of Brexit on their operations. We have also advised stakeholders to refer to the European Commission’s published Notices to Stakeholders in the field of transport.
